23 LGA in Rivers State to Operate from Alternative Secretariat – Siminalayi Fubara

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has announced that the 23 local government councils in the state will operate from alternative secretariats following the sealing of the councils by the police on Tuesday.

Governor Fubara Siminalayi of Rivers State. Credit: Facebook account.

This decision came after the swearing-in ceremony of the 23 local government caretaker committee chairmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Governor Fubara stated that the caretaker chairmen could function from any location as the police have barred them from accessing their official offices at the local government headquarters.

The sealing of the councils and the barring of the caretaker chairmen were enforced by the state police command, which barricaded the secretariats with police patrol vans manned by armed officers.

The police command explained that this action was necessary to prevent further violence and maintain law and order. “We have taken over all the LG council headquarters to forestall further bloodshed and to prevent a breakdown of law and order,” the command stated.

This move by the police followed a violent clash on Tuesday in Eberi-Omuma, Omuma Local Government Area, between supporters of Governor Fubara and his predecessor, the current Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The confrontation resulted in the deaths of a policeman and a member of a local security outfit.

The clash is the latest in a series of conflicts stemming from a bitter disagreement between Fubara and Wike, which has been ongoing since late last year.

The political crisis in Rivers State has seen significant turmoil, including the bombing of the state House of Assembly last year, which led to a factional split within the House.

Governor Fubara narrowly survived an impeachment attempt by 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike, led by Martin Amaewhule.

The conflict escalated further on Tuesday when youths loyal to the governor dislodged some local government chairmen who were aligned with Wike after the expiration of their three-year tenure.

These chairmen, whose terms expired on Monday, had vowed to remain in office, citing a recent Local Government Amendment Law 2024 enacted by the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

This law, passed by the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike, grants the outgoing chairmen an extension of six months in office due to Governor Fubara’s failure to conduct local government elections.

The legislative amendment has further complicated the already tense political situation in the state.

Governor Fubara’s decision to create parallel secretariats is a direct response to these developments.

He emphasized that the caretaker chairmen would continue their duties from any alternative location available. “They can operate from anywhere,” Fubara asserted, indicating his determination to maintain governance and administration despite the police action and political strife.

The broader conflict between Fubara and Wike has significantly destabilized the political landscape in Rivers State.

The initial fallout between the governor and his predecessor began late last year and has since resulted in a series of violent and disruptive events.

The bombing of the state House of Assembly was a particularly alarming episode, highlighting the intensity of the rivalry. The House of Assembly’s division, with factions supporting either Fubara or Wike, has only exacerbated the situation.

The recent clash at Eberi-Omuma, resulting in fatalities, underscores the high stakes and volatility of the ongoing power struggle.

The police’s intervention to seal the local government councils aims to curb further violence, but it has also led to the unprecedented step of establishing parallel secretariats to ensure continuity of governance.